Stimulus Checks, Extension Of Eviction Moratorium Included In GOP Relief Package, Top White House Adviser Says

Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Sunday that more direct payments, along with an extension on the current eviction moratorium, are included in a new Republican bill to boost the economy amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s a $1,200 check coming, that’s going to be part of the new package,” Kudlow told CNN “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper.

“The check is there, the reemployment bonus is there. The retention bonus is there,” Kudlow continued. “There will be breaks, tax credits for small businesses and restaurants.”

“It’s a very well rounded package,” Kudlow said. “It’s a very well targeted package.”

Kudlow’s comments come after the $600 weekly federal unemployment supplement under the CARES Act expired on Saturday. Democrats want the boosted unemployment payments to continue, while Republicans believe the payments are hurting the economy.

The CARES Act has also protected millions of tenants across the country from eviction. Democrats support an extension on the federal eviction ban, with Republicans now backing the idea as the economy struggles to recover from the pandemic.

In May, Democrats passed the Heroes Act relief legislation, offering another round of direct payments, extending boosted unemployment insurance, and providing federal aid to state and local governments. Top Republicans such as President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have called the legislation “dead on arrival,” but some parts of this bill may be included in the next stimulus package.

As COVID-19 cases surge in sunbelt states such as Florida, Arizona and Texas, about 30 million workers have filed unemployment claims due to the economic damage of the virus. In June, the official unemployment rate stood at 11.1%, but this figure is expected to be higher in July.